"Both my children died after they used a scuba diving tank filled with helium instead of oxygen"
- 5 months ago
A mum has spoken of her horror after her two kids drowned using scuba tanks "filled with helium" in friend's pool.
Suzie Dudas' two children, Zale, nine, and Saxon, seven, were in a family friend's swimming pool when they used scuba tanks unknowingly filled with helium.
The children were diving and the tank had no oxygen which caused them to lose consciousness in the water, Suzie claims.
When Suzie's ex-husband looked in the pool, he saw the children laying at the bottom and pulled them out to start CPR, she says.
Suzie, 46, who was not at the home with the kids, then received a call from her ex-husband to explain what happened and rushed to the hospital.
Efforts to resuscitate the children were unsuccessful and Zale and Saxon died on April 27, 2021.
Suzie, a farmer, from Palm Beach, Florida, US, said: "You can't put into words the upset, the anger, and the disbelief.
"The guilt that you weren't there for your children, that you allowed it to happen, that you helped them to get into bathing suits."
On Friday, April 23, 2021, Suzie's ex-husband collected Zale and Saxon and took them over to a friend's house for the day, she said.
She said the tanks the kids were given contained helium instead of oxygen. Helium is used by scuba divers for deep diving and is usually mixed with oxygen.
While Suzie's ex-husband went back into the garage, the children grabbed the tanks and started diving.
Breathing in 100 per cent oxygen left the children unconscious, resulting in them drowning, she said.
Suzie noticed something was wrong when she saw a missed call from her ex-husband.
She said: "When I picked up he wasn't on the line but I could hear them in the background shout 'start CPR'.
"I hung up and I called my friend who owned the house, I told her my children are drowning in her pool and to call 911.
"Then I just started driving."
Emergency services took the children to the Cleveland Clinic where they were fighting for their lives.
Four days later, despite all the attempts both Zale and Saxon were pronounced dead.
Suzie said: "I knew but I didn't want to accept - it was unreal. To see how dilated my children's' eyes were.
"They didn't even look like themselves."
In May 2022, The Florida State Attorney's Office said they would not be filing charges in what it called a "heartbreaking tragedy".
Suzie is calling for the investigation to be reopened and sharing her story on social media - @justiceforzaleandsaxon.
She says she can't understand why the tanks weren't checked and how both of her children died when the tank only had one breathing tube.
In the days after their death, the community rallied around to support Suzie and she offered educational tours and a children's summer camp in Zale and Saxon's memory.
Suzie said: "I had no idea how many people myself and my children influenced.
"My children were there for a lot of the experience people had on the farm, there is a personal connection between the community and my farm.
"It took me a long time to realise that I am still passionate about things. I love working with children but it hurts, if they skin a knee I am not the one they come to.
"I wasn't sure if I could do that again. I did a trail summer camp where my nieces came and a few friends.
"I wanted to see how it made me feel. the positive outweighed the negatives."
Florida State Attorney, Thomas Bakkedahl, said: "I can confirm that our office has conducted an exhaustive review of the Sheriff’s comprehensive investigation along with additional information and materials provided by the mother of Zale and Saxon.
"After significant legal research conducted by my Chief Assistant and one of my major crime prosecutors, it was determined that the State could not, in good faith, seek criminal charges in this heartbreakingly tragic event.
"Stated quite simply, the law and the facts prohibit a criminal prosecution in this instance. These findings and conclusions were communicated to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and they have concurred with our decision.
"At an extensive in person meeting, our findings and conclusions were communicated to the children’s mother as well as her civil attorneys.
"During this meeting, my assistants answered questions and addressed concerns of the attorneys.
"Our hearts go out to all those who loved Zale and Saxon and while we completely understand their desire that someone be “held accountable,” unfortunately that accountability cannot be found within the criminal justice system."
Link to Suzie's social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@justiceforzaleandsaxon
Suzie Dudas' two children, Zale, nine, and Saxon, seven, were in a family friend's swimming pool when they used scuba tanks unknowingly filled with helium.
The children were diving and the tank had no oxygen which caused them to lose consciousness in the water, Suzie claims.
When Suzie's ex-husband looked in the pool, he saw the children laying at the bottom and pulled them out to start CPR, she says.
Suzie, 46, who was not at the home with the kids, then received a call from her ex-husband to explain what happened and rushed to the hospital.
Efforts to resuscitate the children were unsuccessful and Zale and Saxon died on April 27, 2021.
Suzie, a farmer, from Palm Beach, Florida, US, said: "You can't put into words the upset, the anger, and the disbelief.
"The guilt that you weren't there for your children, that you allowed it to happen, that you helped them to get into bathing suits."
On Friday, April 23, 2021, Suzie's ex-husband collected Zale and Saxon and took them over to a friend's house for the day, she said.
She said the tanks the kids were given contained helium instead of oxygen. Helium is used by scuba divers for deep diving and is usually mixed with oxygen.
While Suzie's ex-husband went back into the garage, the children grabbed the tanks and started diving.
Breathing in 100 per cent oxygen left the children unconscious, resulting in them drowning, she said.
Suzie noticed something was wrong when she saw a missed call from her ex-husband.
She said: "When I picked up he wasn't on the line but I could hear them in the background shout 'start CPR'.
"I hung up and I called my friend who owned the house, I told her my children are drowning in her pool and to call 911.
"Then I just started driving."
Emergency services took the children to the Cleveland Clinic where they were fighting for their lives.
Four days later, despite all the attempts both Zale and Saxon were pronounced dead.
Suzie said: "I knew but I didn't want to accept - it was unreal. To see how dilated my children's' eyes were.
"They didn't even look like themselves."
In May 2022, The Florida State Attorney's Office said they would not be filing charges in what it called a "heartbreaking tragedy".
Suzie is calling for the investigation to be reopened and sharing her story on social media - @justiceforzaleandsaxon.
She says she can't understand why the tanks weren't checked and how both of her children died when the tank only had one breathing tube.
In the days after their death, the community rallied around to support Suzie and she offered educational tours and a children's summer camp in Zale and Saxon's memory.
Suzie said: "I had no idea how many people myself and my children influenced.
"My children were there for a lot of the experience people had on the farm, there is a personal connection between the community and my farm.
"It took me a long time to realise that I am still passionate about things. I love working with children but it hurts, if they skin a knee I am not the one they come to.
"I wasn't sure if I could do that again. I did a trail summer camp where my nieces came and a few friends.
"I wanted to see how it made me feel. the positive outweighed the negatives."
Florida State Attorney, Thomas Bakkedahl, said: "I can confirm that our office has conducted an exhaustive review of the Sheriff’s comprehensive investigation along with additional information and materials provided by the mother of Zale and Saxon.
"After significant legal research conducted by my Chief Assistant and one of my major crime prosecutors, it was determined that the State could not, in good faith, seek criminal charges in this heartbreakingly tragic event.
"Stated quite simply, the law and the facts prohibit a criminal prosecution in this instance. These findings and conclusions were communicated to the Martin County Sheriff’s Office and they have concurred with our decision.
"At an extensive in person meeting, our findings and conclusions were communicated to the children’s mother as well as her civil attorneys.
"During this meeting, my assistants answered questions and addressed concerns of the attorneys.
"Our hearts go out to all those who loved Zale and Saxon and while we completely understand their desire that someone be “held accountable,” unfortunately that accountability cannot be found within the criminal justice system."
Link to Suzie's social media: https://www.tiktok.com/@justiceforzaleandsaxon